Pennsylvania ups budget to entice visitors

Pennsylvania ups budget to entice visitors

PENNSYLVANIA is to pour resources into a stronger UK marketing drive as it fights to keep its biggest overseas market travelling to its cities.

The state has more than doubled its UK budget for the next year to $700,000 – more than a third of its entire overseas budget. Approximately 130,000 people will travel from the UK to Pennsylvania this year. But tourism officials are worried the effects of September 11 will dampen numbers significantly in 2002 as it has already seen a 25% drop in overall visitors.

International marketing manager Lewis Robbins said the state would work closer with operators, including Gold Medal, ebookers and North American Travel Service, to keep people coming. He said the state was also working closer with New York, Washington and Niagara Falls to encourage two-centre holidays